Page 82
CHAPTER IV.
Page 82
88
I
1.
5. Quartering.-The H.K.S B., RA., manning Kowloon East Fort will be encamped in the fort.
The H.K.S.B., R.A., manning Kowloon Dock will be encamped in the fort.
The native infantry outposts will be encamped in the positions assigned to them. The remainder of the troops will be encamped in the headquarter camp, the site of which is on the flat spur north of Kowloon City, at the junction of the roads to the Grass Cutters and Shat'in Passes.
6. Mode of Reinforcement.-By land from the Reserve to the Lai-Chi-Kok or Kowloon City Piers, as required.
7. Communications.-There are three broad metalled roads in this section, one running from Kowloon through Hunghom to Kowloon City; the second, known as the Frontier Road," which runs from Kowloon through Yaumati over the Kowloon Hills to Taipo-Hu; and the third, which runs from Yaumati through the low granite hills in the centre of the peninsula to Kowloon City. This last-mentioned road throws off lateral branches in the shape of pathways, which wind along the ravines formed by the low granite hills, and meet the Kowloon-Hunghom and Kowloon City-Kaulung Tong roads.
Lateral communication between Kowloon City on the one flank, and the Lai-Chi- Kok Pass on the other, is obtained by a narrow road which runs from Kowloon City viâ the Custom's Station on the granite hills (now in ruins) and the village of Kaulung Tong, and joins the Frontier Road close to the Cosmopolitan Docks. There are five passes over the Kowloon Hills, named respectively, from east to west, Customs Pass, Grass Cutters' Pass, Shatin Pass, Kowloon Pass, and Lai-Chi-Kok Pass, which are crossed by pathways used chiefly by grass-cutters and villagers. They are, however, suitable for the movement of infantry in file and light mountain
guns.
Communication between the two flanks of the section can also be obtained by water from the Kowloon City Pier to the Lai-Chi-Kok Pier, and by this mode should the left flank be reinforced in the event of its becoming threatened. Launches and lighters will be kept at the Kowloon City Pier on mobilization.
Section headquarters and the outpost on Eagle's Hill will be brought, on mobilization, into telephonic communication with the headquarters at Victoria and Kowloon. Colonial telephones are laid to Saikung, Kowloon City, Shateen, and Taipo- Hu, and the police stations at these places can be communicated with from Kowloon City. The forts are connected by telephone with headquarters at Victoria and with Kowloon, and can be communicated with through these channels.
Communication with neighbouring sections will require to be established by means of signalling.
8. Supplies.-Rations will be sent out daily from the main depôt in Whitfield Barracks, Kowloon. Seven days' reserve rations will be stored in a ration sub-depôt at the headquarter camp of the section.
Water for the headquarter camp of the section can be obtained from a stream east of the camping ground. Outposts can obtain water from streams, which are perennial, in the vicinity of the positions assigned to them; it will be carried to them by bhisties and coolie labour.
9. Ammunition.-500 rounds per gun is issued to the artillery, that for the fort guns being stored in the forts.
A field magazine will be established in the headquarter camp of the section, in Ordnance charge, and in this will be kept-
The reserve ammunition of the mountain battery, the 2nd Reserve, 300 rounds
per rifle, small arm ammunition, and the reserve for Maxims.
camp
1st Reserve, 100 rounds per rifle, will be in regimental charge.
Infantry carry 100 rounds per rifle in pouches, other branches 50 rounds.
10. Dressing Station. A dressing station will be established in the headquarter of the section, where mild cases will be treated. More serious cases will be sent, in the case of British troops to the Victoria Station Hospital, and in the case of native troops to the Kowloon Station Hospital, as the medical officer directs.
Officers in command of forts should be instructed to report by telephone any cases of sickness occurring among the men under their immediate command, with a view to arrangements being made for their treatment, or removal and relief if necessary.
11. Modes of Attack.--The more probable forms of attack on this section are—
(1.) By a raid of torpedo-boats, with a view to destroying the Kowloon or Cosmopolitau Docks.
Page 82
Page 82
Page 82